Overview – 2024 ATF FFL Inspection Violations
In March 2025, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) released its annual FFL inspection data for Fiscal Year 2024, revealing key trends in federal firearms licensee (FFL) compliance. With nearly 10,000 inspections conducted nationwide, the report highlights the most common ATF inspection violations, the scope of enforcement actions, and the ongoing challenges FFLs face in maintaining compliance.
This year’s data offers valuable insights for gun stores, manufacturers, importers, and compliance professionals seeking to reduce risk and avoid costly penalties.
Ref: ATF source article
ATF Personnel
| Special Agents | 2,572 |
|---|---|
| Industry Operations Investigators | 857 |
| Administrative/professional/technical | 1,893 |
| Total full-time employees | 5,322 |
Firearms Licensees
As of FY 2024, there were 128,690 active federal firearms licensees (FFLs) and 43,956 firearms licenses issued (to include renewals).
| Type 01: Dealer | 47,776 |
|---|---|
| Type 02: Pawnbroker | 6,149 |
| Type 03: Collector | 49,689 |
| Type 06: Manufacturer of Ammunition | 1,858 |
| Type 07: Manufacturer of Firearms | 20,578 |
| Type 08: Importer | 1,698 |
| Type 09: Dealer of Destructive Devices | 145 |
| Type 10: Manufacturer of Destructive Devices | 496 |
| Type 11: Importer of Destructive Devices | 301 |
ATF FFL Inspections
ATF conducted 9,696 firearm compliance inspections in FY 2024. Firearms compliance inspections resulted in the following recommendations:
| No violations | 5,207 |
|---|---|
| Report of violations | 1,689 |
| Warning letters | 721 |
| Warning Conference | 214 |
| License surrendered/out of business | 1,488 |
| Revocations | 195 |
| Other dispositions | 182 |
Most Frequent ATF Inspection Violations [2024]
Orchid eBound and e4473 is the only industry solution that comes with in-house Digital 4473 Storage, ATF Rapid Review daily monitoring and an Attorney Defense 100% Guaranteed Against ATF from Orchid law.
| 27 CFR 478.125(e) | Failure to maintain an accurate/complete/timely acquisition and disposition record of firearms | 37,654 |
|---|---|---|
| 27 CFR 478.21(a) | Failure to complete forms as prescribed | 32,068 |
| 27 CFR 478.124(c)(1) | Failure to obtain a completed ATF F 4473 | 20,767 |
| 27 CFR 478.124(c)(3)(iv) | Failure to record NICS contact information on an ATF F 4473 | 15,296 |
| 27 CFR 478.123(b) | Failure to maintain an accurate/complete/timely licensee disposition record | 11,026 |
| 27 CFR 478.124(c)(5) | Failure by transferor to sign and/or date an ATF F 4473 | 10,962 |
| 27 CFR 478.123(a) | Failure to maintain an accurate/complete/timely manufacture or acquisition record | 9,323 |
| 27 CFR 478.124(c)(3)(i) | Failure to verify or record Identification document on ATF F 4473 | 6,797 |
| 27 CFR 478.124(c)(4) | Failure to record firearm information on an ATF F 4473 | 6,752 |
| 27 CFR 478.126a | Failure to report multiple sales or other dispositions of pistols and revolvers | 4,772 |
Firearms Application Inspections
ATF conducted 8,815 firearms application inspections. Of those inspections, 6,395 were approved and 37 were denied. The remaining 2,383 application inspections were abandoned or withdrawn.
National Firearms Act (NFA)
| NFA registration applications (and transfer applications) received | 1,170,028 |
|---|---|
| NFA registrations processed count of forms | 1,373,305 |
| NFA registrations processed (total weapons)/count of weapons | 4,731,918 |
| NFA making and transfer tax collected | $145,072,242 |
| NFA special occupation tax collected | $10,438,289 |
Note: All taxes collected for NFA go to the general fund of the U.S. Treasury Department.
Tracing
ATF’s National Tracing Center (NTC) is the only organization authorized to trace U.S. and foreign manufactured firearms for local, state, federal and international law enforcement agencies. NTC provides critical information that helps domestic and international law enforcement agencies solve firearms crimes, detect firearms trafficking, and track the intrastate, interstate, and international movement of crime guns.
NTC processed more than 639,295 trace requests in FY 2024.
0 Comments